The ultimate goal of the project is to develop methods to prepare, manipulate and read the state of molecular spin qubits and explore the fundamental aspects of quantum information processing and quantum sensing.
The entire project is based on the commissioning and use of Electron Spin Resonance Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (ESR-STM), a tool that enables the active spin manipulation. This technique combines the extreme energy resolution of traditional ESR with the spatial resolution, i.e. at the atomic level, of STM. It thus allows coherent manipulation of individual atomic/molecular spin qubits on surfaces.
With this background, the long-term goal of the project is to extend the use of ESR-STM and address spin qubits in an arbitrary environment, e.g. a metal surface. In fact, the majority of ESR-STM studies available in literature are restricted to individual magnetic atoms laying on thin films of MgO grown on Ag(100). The insulating layer of MgO seems to be an essential ingredient to obtain addressable and functional atomic spin qubits. 1) MgO acts as an active material mediating the coupling between microwave radiation and atomic spin qubits. 2) MgO establishes magnetic anisotropy, through the ligand field, providing atoms with the electronic structure such that they can act as spin qubits. 3) It decouples magnetic atoms from the metallic substrate and improves the qubit behaviour. The key idea to achieve the goal of the project and make robust spin qubits is to use metal-organic complexes whose organic structure is designed in such a way to play the role of the MgO layer. The availability of ESR-STM active molecules will open the possibility of realizing new local and non-destructive magnetic sensing methods.
